Turkish Lira drops to record lows after Ankara court annuls 2023 leadership contest

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USD/TRY rises after a slight decline in the previous day, reaching a record high of 45.7778 during the Asian hours on Friday. The pair appreciates as the Turkish Lira (TRY) drops due to political uncertainty that emerges after a top court ruling targeting the main opposition party.

USD/TRY rises as the Turkish Lira falls following a top court ruling targeting the main opposition party.
An Ankara appeals court annulled the CHP's 2023 leadership contest, effectively deposing opposition leader Özgür Özel.
US Dollar gains as higher energy prices threaten to boost US inflation and prompt the Fed to keep rates elevated.

An Ankara appeals court has dealt a fresh blow to Turkey's opposition by annulling the 2023 leadership contest of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The ruling effectively deposes the party's current leader, Özgür Özel, marking a significant escalation in the judicial challenges facing political rivals of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Additionally, the USD/TRY pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) receives support from rising odds of hawkish sentiment surrounding the Federal Reserve (Fed) policy stance. Higher energy prices threaten to feed into core US consumer prices and inflation expectations, which could potentially push the Fed to keep interest rates higher. Furthermore, a stronger US economic growth outlook is adding weight to the case for monetary tightening and boosting the Greenback.

Fed officials remain cautious as they evaluate whether to adjust short-term interest rates. While they are currently holding the federal funds rate steady, policymakers are moving away from the idea of rate cuts and are increasingly open to raising rates if inflation fails to cool down.

US President Donald Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as the chair of the US Federal Reserve on Friday at the White House. The new chair succeeds Jerome Powell, whose term expired on Friday but who has continued to serve on a pro-tempore basis until the transition.

Risk sentiment FAQs

What do the terms"risk-on" and "risk-off" mean when referring to sentiment in financial markets?

In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off'' refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.

What are the key assets to track to understand risk sentiment dynamics?

Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.

Which currencies strengthen when sentiment is "risk-on"?

The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.

Which currencies strengthen when sentiment is "risk-off"?

The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.